In the world of football, it is common to see players rise from the backyard of obscurity to the footstep of fame in a matter of months. One such player who has been the talk of the town lately is Samuel Chukwueze.
The Super Eagles winger has been in the form of his life this season, and his performances had gone unnoticed and underappreciated until last weekend.
Having contributed to more than 20 goals for Villarreal in all competitions, Chukwueze had enjoyed an exceptional campaign.
However, many only took notice of him after his near-extraterrestrial display at the Santiago Bernabeu last weekend.
Chukwueze dropped arguably the best performance of his career, with one cute pre-assist, two stunning goals, and seven successful dribbles that left even the harshest critics convinced of his quality.
Thanks largely to Chukwueze's brilliance, Villarreal twice came from behind to record only their second-ever win at the Bernabeu.
Apart from that game, Chukwueze has been delivering similarly impressive performances for Villarreal all season, recording numbers comparable to many celebrated stars in the league, with 24-goal contributions in 40 games.
By contrast, Arsenal's golden boy Bukayo Saka has managed 23-goal contributions in 40 games for the Gunners.
Interestingly, while Saka's market value has risen to well over €100 million, Chukwueze's estimated worth has not exceeded €20 million since 2021 (Transfermarkt).
Despite his undervaluation, Chukwueze's stock continues to rise, especially on the back of that magnificent Madrid masterclass.
It will be surprising if several of Europe's biggest clubs do not line up for the Nigerian international's signature in the summer.
With a current release clause of €100 million, it's clear that Villarreal rates the Nigerian international highly.
However, with the clause set to decrease to €80 million this summer, we could see Chukwueze on the move in the upcoming transfer window.
Villarreal signed Chukwueze for next to nothing in 2017, and while they will not get the €100 million release clause amount, they should be happy to do business for a third of that amount.
The club has already started negotiations for a contract extension. Still, with big clubs like Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Everton reportedly interested in his services, it's uncertain whether Villarreal will be able to hold on to him.
In conclusion, Chukwueze's performances have been breathtaking, and it's no surprise that he's been labeled as one of the most exciting wingers in European football. With his stock on the rise and his value set to increase, the summer transfer window promises to be an interesting one for Samuel Chukwueze.
The question no one can seem to answer is, how much will he cost? Only time will tell.
